What to Eat With Fried Shrimp? 20 Side Dishes for Fried Shrimp

If there is a person on Earth that loves fried shrimp more than me, I certainly haven’t met them yet.  Whether you are throwing a party or just having a family dinner, fried shrimp just fits.  But what do you serve them with?  Well, I have 20 delicious side dishes and 2 vegetables just for you!

We are in the era of popular seafood dishes, enjoyed in each corner of the world.  While everyone talks about delicious, juicy prawns and lobsters, it seems we forget about the classic that is fried shrimp.

This fried and crispy snack can go perfectly with tons of side dishes.  Some of our highly recommended sides are presented below.  If you choose fried shrimp to bring to your next potluck dinner, then my suggested sides will have you showered with compliments.

What to eat with fried shrimp? 20 Side Dishes

1) Pasta

If you love pasta like I do, then you will already know that nearly every pasta makes for a combination with shrimp. My go-to is spaghetti but you can use linguine, fettuccine, or whatever pasta tickles your fancy.

Recipe: This spaghetti recipe will only take 20 minutes to cook if done correctly.

1. Bring heavily salted water (your water should taste like the ocean!) to a boil on your stovetop and let the spaghetti noodles boil for 10-12 minutes.  Now for the white sauce.
2. In a separate pan on medium-low heat, sauté minced garlic in a tablespoon of butter until the garlic is incorporated into the butter.
3. Sprinkle in a tablespoon of all-purpose flour and stir.  
4. Slowly add a drizzle of whole milk into the sauce while constantly whisking as to avoid lumps.
5. Once the sauce is completed, transfer the cooked spaghetti noodles into the pan. Sprinkle with some salt, black pepper, and parmesan cheese for a delectable taste of Italy.

Place the fried shrimp on top of the dish and serve.

2) Fried rice and curry

Of all the dishes known around the world, the distinct flavor of curried rice will turn any snack into a main dish. All you need to do is get cooking.

This one is super easy.  You can prepare a curried rice with just an onion, tomato, salt, pepper, and curry powder that will taste as authentic as it is delicious.  Start by boiling rice at a ratio of 2 parts water to 1 part rice.  Sauté 1/2 cup of diced onion for 4 minutes in a pan, stir in 1 1/2 cups of diced tomatoes and cook for 6-8 minutes.

Add curry powder, salt, and black pepper to taste.  I like to add a tablespoon of red chili for more fun.  Stir in the boiled rice and fried shrimp and serve

(Tip: Add half a cup of water to the curry mixture and let the curry boil for an additional 5 minutes so that all the ingredients can incorporate properly.)

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3) Zucchini noodles

Watching your figure?  The high in fiber and low-calorie zucchini noodle is your best bet when counting calories.

You can simply serve the “zoodles” with a squeeze of lemon juice on top.  I constantly substitute zoodles for pasta and it never disappoints.

4) Creamy Spinach

I don’t think I have ever come home from a party with leftovers when I make my creamy spinach.  Once it hits the table, it may last the hour.  Delicious and oh, so easy.

Begin by making a white sauce with equal parts butter and milk.  Incorporate ¼ cup of all-purpose flour and whisk until smooth.

Add boiled spinach to the mixture with a ½ cup of parmesan cheese.  Stir well until the cream is thick and blended with the spinach leaves and serve.

5) French fries

Trying desperately to get your children to branch out and try fried shrimp?  Then allow French fries to help. 

Shhh, I have a secret step to make my French fries crispier.  Coat the fries in corn flour before frying.  This simple little trick works amazingly well and will give you restaurant quality fries.

6) Salted asparagus

If you ask my opinion on whether to steam, grill, or oven-roast any vegetable, my answer will always be oven-roast.  This goes double for asparagus.  There is nothing better than crunchy asparagus right out of the oven.

Steps:

1. Preheat the oven at 425°C.
2. Clean and dry your asparagus, move the stems, and place them on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet.
3. Drizzle olive oil, salt, and pepper over the asparagus.

Place the tray in the preheated oven and let the asparagus roast for 12-15 minutes for the best results.

7) Salad

From simple vegetable salads to ornate salads with goat cheese and strawberries, the choices are endless.  As far as I’m concerned, a plain salad goes well with every dish.

A salad is easy and requires no steaming, baking, or frying.  All the ingredients used are meant to be eaten raw, and I am all about easy.

Chop some onion, carrot, radish, tomato, cucumber, pomegranate, and beetroot and place in thinly sliced pieces on a plate. Serve with black pepper, salt, and half-cut lemons on the side.

8) Cheesy Corn

My cheesy corn is always favorite on the menu.  Apart from being high in vitamin B and essential minerals, corn canprotect your vision by mitigating the lens damage that results from cataracts and other common eye issues.

Combine melted butter with 4 teaspoons of flour and a dash of garlic powder.  Add ¾ cup of milk and stir in 6 ounces of your preferred cheese.  When I make my cheesy corn, I always opt for sharp cheddar cheese.  Mix in a package of frozen corn and place into a 2-quart casserole dish.  Bake the corn mixture in the oven for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. 

9) Beverages

A refreshing beverage in any form will lighten up the mood.  White wine pairs best with fried shrimp, and most other fish for that matter.  White wine and its hints of fruit brings out the inherent flavors of the shrimp quite nicely.  The best part?  You can sip it all night long!

10) Mashed potatoes

Mashed potatoes go with EVERYTHING.  Mashing boiled potatoes and incorporating with heavy cream, butter, salt, and pepper will make produce a lovely side to our fried shrimp.  Pro tip, mix in the cold butter and coat the boiled potatoes prior to adding the heavy cream.  If you add the cream first, the water content in the cream combines with the starch in the potatoes and can produce a somewhat gluey texture.  For a nice little twist, add some fresh cilantro leaves on top. 

11) Elotes

Elotes is a Mexican treat that can now be found in every major city across the world.  Detach the outer leaves of the corn and toss them on the grill.  All you are looking for here is a slight char on the corn.  When they are properly grilled, coat them with a mixture of butter and mayonnaise.  Generously sprinkle cotija cheese and red-chili powder.  Squeeze a lime over the top and dig in!

12) Coleslaw

If you think that the prep work for coleslaw is insurmountable, then you have been misled.  Trust me, coleslaw is one of the easiest side dishes to prepare.  Just grate a large amount of cabbage and carrots into a bowl. Mix with 4 tablespoons of mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon of sugar, salt, and pepper and you are ready to plate.  For a sweeter variation, mix in a tablespoon of honey.

13) Roasted Nuts or Dry Fruits

Place your favorite mixed nuts (I go for almonds, cashews, and walnuts) into a pan on medium heat, drizzle with coconut oil and roast for 5-7 minutes.  Feel free to garnish it over the fried shrimp or eat on the side for a nutty and crispy texture play.

14) Stuffed Bell Peppers

Core and halve the bell peppers and fill with tomatoes, zucchini, and leeks.  Top the bell peppers with grated mozzarella cheese and bake in the oven for 25 minutes at 425 degrees.

If you prefer a softer, less al dente bell pepper, then it is best to steam the peppers for five minutes before filling them. 

15) Mashed Cauliflower

If you’re not a potato fan, never fear, for cauliflower mash is here!  In order to get the same consistency as mashed potatoes, steam the cauliflower head for 15 minutes and blend into a blender.  This will get all the lumps out.

Sauté a clove of garlic in a skillet and shift the mashed (blended) cauliflower into it after turning off the heat.  Add thick cream and butter, just as we did with the mashed potatoes.  Garnish with some cilantro leaves on top and serve.

16) Mac and Cheese

The only side dish that could possibly rival pasta when served with fried shrimp, is the classic mac and cheese.  Whether it is out of a box, or a homemade recipe, mac and cheese is an absolute crowd pleaser. 

Boil macaroni noodles until cooked through.  Heat milk and flour in a separate bowl until thoroughly mixed.  Add cheddar and gruyere cheese to the milk and flour over medium heat until the cheese melts through.  Add the cooked noodles to your cheese mixture and serve.

17) Garlic Lemon Broccoli

Whether roasted or stir-fried, broccoli is never out of fashion:

1. Cut broccoli florets into 2 halves and pat dry well
2. Toss in a bowl with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and cumin
3. Evenly spread on a baking sheet
4. Transfer to a pre-heated oven at 425°F and let it roast for 15-20 minutes. 

When the florets are golden brown, you are ready to eat.

18) Paneer

Paneer, or Indian cottage cheese, is extremely popular in Asia, but quite less popular in European and American countries.  But once you try it, paneer will become part of your diet immediately.

Indian cultures typically enjoy paneer as an evening snack.  Paneer is rich in protein and calcium and can be consumed raw or quickly fried in a pan for 2-3 minutes.  This Indian cottage cheese is also a great dish to cook on the grill.  Layer in some spices like tandoori and cayenne pepper for a terrific side dish.

19) Sauce

A variety of sauces are available in your nearest local shops.  We just need to determine what kind of sauce goes well with fried shrimp.  Ketchup and cocktail sauce will always work.  For the more adventurous, there are other options like soy ginger, tartar sauce, or even ranch dressing.  Whatever sauce you choose, you can’t wrong.  

20) Cornbread

I could take you through a whole process on how to make your very own cornbread.  But the secret is that the ready-to-cook mixture of cornbread from your local store will taste just as good and take you half the time.  Follow the directions on the box and in 30-40 minutes, you will have a no-fuss side dish.

Which Vegetables Go with Shrimp?

When I think about vegetables to go with fried shrimp, several come to mind.  My ideal veggies are as follows:

1) Mushrooms

Mushrooms are a staple in my household, specifically cremini mushrooms.  Wipe (not rinse) your preferred mushroom variety with a paper towel.  Toss them in a pan with a tablespoon of butter, salt, and pepper.  Cook them on medium high heat for 10-15 minutes, tossing regularly until golden brown.

2) Brussels Sprouts

Roasted brussels sprouts plays nicely with fried shrimp.  Combine the brussels sprouts with olive oil, salt, pepper, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.  Place the seasoned sprouts onto a foil-lined sheet pan.  Cook at 375 degrees for 35 minutes.

Final words

I hope that your recipe notebook is full, and you now have several go-to side dishes to pair with your fried shrimp.

Please do not forget to share your favorites from the above-mentioned dishes and feel free to ask us questions.

Keep your kitchen hot and salty!

So, do you already know what to eat and serve with fried and grilled shrimp? Please, feel free to leave your comment and opinion below!

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